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Disney hires new marketing guru for "Pirates 4" |
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Disney has taken the unusual step of bringing in a consultant to handle the marketing of its fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, a move bound to raise questions about the marketing boss hired by the studio five months ago. Valerie Van Galder, who formerly headed marketing at Sony Pictures and Fox Searchlight, will oversee the campaign for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," due in theaters next May. Considering the film's importance, the move is likely to be perceived in the industry -- fairly or not -- as a sign that Disney lacks full confidence in Hollywood newcomer M.T. Carney, a brand strategist who came aboard as head of worldwide marketing in April. Disney has had a tough summer with live-action films, with two of its disappointments -- "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" -- produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. "She came to the party late," Bruckheimer told The Hollywood Reporter, referring to Carney. "I had two movies that got caught between two regimes, and the movies suffered." Asked for comment, Disney issued a statement from Carney: "Val was one of the first people I met when I arrived, and in subsequent conversations, I've been impressed with her business savvy and diverse background. I'm thrilled she accepted my invitation to lend her talents on this important franchise. I'm committed to working with her and other innovative professionals as we continue to build out our world-class marketing organization." The studio declined further comment. Van Galder ended a 10-year stint at Sony Pictures in 2009, after working on such hit films as "Superbad" and "Spider-Man 3." Before that, she ran marketing at art-house studio Fox Searchlight. SOURCE |
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Disney's Alice in Wonderland and Bolt Blu-ray 3D Titles Exclusive to Sony |
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Disney and Sony have joined forces to co-market Blu-ray 3D hardware and software beginning this fall. For an undisclosed limited time, select bundles of Sony Bravia 3D televisions will come with the exclusive release of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Bolt on Blu-ray 3D. Twentieth Century Fox recently extended their agreement with Panasonic to market Blu-ray 3D software and hardware by bundling James Cameron's Avatar on Blu-ray 3D exclusively with Panasonic 3D Viera HDTVs beginning this December. The move was designed to counter Samsung's alignment with Dreamworks to bring together all four Shrek films to Blu-ray 3D exclusively with Samsung's 3D HDTVs. Warner has partnered with LG to offer three IMAX nature films on Blu-ray 3D with their 3D sets. The odd man out in the current Blu-ray 3D market overwhelmed with exclusive manufacturer and publisher deals are consumers. To date there are only two titles available at individual resale on Blu-ray 3D: Sony's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and starting next week, Monster House. The only other confirmed titles are Disney's A Christmas Carol in mid-November and Sony's Open Season by year's end. Sony's Resident Evil: Afterlife is expected to be the first day-and-date Blu-ray 3D release in either December or January. SOURCE |
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Winemaker Steve Bird has had his wish upon a star granted with two wines selected by Walt Disney World for its 2011 core wine list. The two signature wines - 2008 Bird Sauvignon Blanc and 2008 Bird Big Barrel Pinot Noir - are to be stocked in the majority of restaurants and bars from next month at Disneyland in Los Angeles and Disneyworld in Florida. Bird is the owner of Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards, which has a head office in Tauranga and a vineyard and winery in Marlborough. "It's fantastic news because millions of tourists from around the world visit the theme parks every year, so the exposure for Bird Wines will be phenomenal," he said. "Our export market is rapidly expanding and we are now gaining a genuine international following." The pinot noir wine is produced using Vernou Roll Fermentation, in which 900-litre oak barrels are gently rolled by hand during fermentation to ensure delicate flavours and aromas are preserved. SOURCE |
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Lawsuit: Disney manager made dangerous situation |
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The mother of a Walt Disney World monorail pilot killed last year accuses her son's former boss of leaving his post and creating a dangerous situation. In court papers filed this week, Austin Wuennenberg's mother accuses a monorail manager of creating a dangerous situation by taking an on-duty meal break with other workers and leaving the monorail control tower unstaffed. Wuennenberg was killed in July 2009 when two monorails collided. His mother filed a lawsuit earlier this year. Christine Wuennenberg says the manager didn't tell her son or other pilots that no one was going to be monitoring the monorails directly. If someone had been, Wuennenberg says, they could have used video monitors to see that a collision was coming Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez would not comment on the specific allegations made by the monorail pilot's mother. SOURCE |
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Disney luxury pet resort opens |
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Tails were wagging at Walt Disney World Resort when Best Friends Pet Care opened the doors to its new, luxury pet resort on Sept. 1. Mickey Mouse’s favorite dog Pluto was there to welcome the first guests. The one-of-a-kind, 27,000-square-foot luxury facility is complete with cat “condos,” doggy suites, and special accommodations for smaller “pocket pets.” Park and resort guests, as well as visitors staying off property, can reserve the pet hospitality services to include overnight boarding for pampered pups, cats and pot-bellied pigs. Directly off the resort’s lobby, a grooming salon offers “go-home-fresh” baths and haircuts for pets. A la carte activities for dogs range from one-on-one playtimes and social playgroups to “cuddle time” and bedtime stories with resort staff. Dog owners also can choose from pet amenities that include ice cream treats, bottled water and premium orthopedic bedding. Cat owners can treat their feline favorites to private playtimes or gourmet snacks like “Tuna on a Ritz” or Cookies and Milk.” Services and amenities offered at the resort are designed to create a fun and comfortable environment for all pets. Dogs staying overnight and accustomed to curling up with a child for bedtime stories will be all ears when they settle down for staff-read “tuck-in” tales. Discriminating cats with a taste for tuna can get their own custom treats. TVs will be tuned to favorite pet films like “Milo and Otis” or “Homeward Bound.” - Best Friends Pet Care’s luxury pet resort includes: A full-service grooming salon with lobby view.
- Two 1,100-square-foot doggy-day-camp rooms opening onto a play-yard.
- A 25,000-square-foot private, nature-scaped dog park with water-play area and protected trail.
- Accommodations for 270 dogs in standard and luxury indoor-outdoor suites. Oversized luxury suites include raised bedding (hop up Fido!) and TVs.
- A separate “Kitty City” pavilion accommodating up to 30 cats in “purr-fect” two- and four-story cat condos.
- A special room for boarding of pocket pets that include birds and hamsters
The resort is located on property at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway, across from the Port Orleans Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort. Check out www.bestfriendspetcare.com to make a reservation for pet stays beginning August 27, 2010, or call 877-4-WDW-PETS. SOURCE |
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